Yes this has been reported in the press ... as well as many other unpleasant taxation plans that President Holland has for the French. Not sure it will get through the Senate or Parliament but it makes good press for him.

Incidentally ANYONE who has a secondary residence in France regardless of where their primary residence is has to pay a massive 33% tax to the government when they sell it.

I can understand why the media might report this as 'Brit bashing', but don't forget it's summer, the silly season, the civil servants have all left Paris for the seaside and there's nothing else to write about!!!

And of course not just Brits who own holiday homes. Still, the Daily Mail wouldn't want that to stop a bit of froggy bashing.

No, but it is the Brits who read the Mail.
Why call it Froggy bashing when it appears to be true?

Simply this. CGT increases to 34.5% for foreign owned holiday homes and also that tax on all rental income will in the future include social charges bringing it in line with second homes owned by French nationals.

It seems to have slipped The Mail's mind that owners of second homes in the UK also pay Council Tax, Income Tax on lettings income and Capital Gains Tax when they sell it! And they don't even get the sort of tapered relief that people who own second homes in France do whereby the longer you that second home the less CGT tax you pay on it - so keep it long enough and you won't pay anything anyway.

This wouldn't have anything to do with UK ex-pats who do mainly live in France but also still own a home here nominating their UK house as their main residence in order to avoid paying UK CGT on it when they sell are now discovering that the French taxes on 2nd homes are making that little 'tax avoidance' scheme no longer quite so attractive?

SM